Currently reading: Schuey 'as good as ever'
Michael Schumacher is as good as he always was, says team boss Norbert Haug

Michael Schumacher is as good as he always was, his team has insisted.

Schumacher has been outqualified and outraced by team-mate Nico Rosberg in the first two races of the year, but Mercedes-Benz motorsport boss Norbert Haug says the seven-time champion still has the same magic that drove him to seven world titles.

"He has got it. And we have one of the strongest driver pairings in the field," said Haug.

Haug pointed out Schumacher was baulked by Fernando alonso in qualifying in Australia, aadding that his car was then damaged during first corner contact in the race.

He added that Schumacher's critics should applaud the German because he took on the challenge of returning to F1 rather than shying away from it for fear of failure.

"If you look at qualifying Michael was handicapped behind Alonso, and it is fair to say it was a very comparable lap to Nico," said Haug.

"Michael is missing three years of these fours years, but he is here to be competitive. And he could sit on his sofa saying, 'nobody won more than I did', but this is his passion."

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Richard H 31 March 2010

Re: Schuey 'as good as ever'

golfman wrote:
If race ability and being a gentleman is that, then it's Damon Hill.
Or Mario.

golfman wrote:
If dowright racing talent, then it's Prost.
I agree, but you could add Niki Lauda to that too. Button never looks quick. But the clock often tells another story, like Prost used to.

golfman wrote:
If balls-out driving, then it's a either Senna or Mansell
True, but I always prefered to watch Ronnie or Keke Rosberg on those one chance quali laps, wringing its neck ;-)

Schmacher was capable of a Sennaesque balls out lap, but seems to lack that aggression this year. Vettel, Hamilton and Alonso have demonstrated that they still have that fire.

golfman 31 March 2010

Re: Schuey 'as good as ever'

Just what is "defines the glorious principles of Formula One"? If race ability and being a gentleman is that, then it's Damon Hill. If dowright racing talent, then it's Prost. If balls-out driving, then it's a either Senna or Mansell.

golfman 31 March 2010

Re: Schuey 'as good as ever'

I'm not going to be told how to be a F1 fan by anyone, so I'll ignore the silly comments.

It's no good making excuses that someone was "baulked" by someone else, or he had a new nose cone, so that was why etc. etc. For someone who should know better to say, Schumi is as good as ever, is just plain daft. Clearly he isn't. He was a great driver. Perhaps some here have a problem seeing the word "was".

As I said on Uncle's thread, he can't even beat his fellow team driver yet - and Nico IS NOT the greatest driver in the paddock, is he? To think he can beat Alonso, Hamilton, Massa and Button (let alone the Red Bull cars) is just fan-worship clouding someone's judgement.

I say again - he won't win a single race this season. I have a £200 virtual bet from Beachland2 on this. I can afford to take others.